Samuel Melancthon Derrick Papers

One and one-quarter linear feet of papers,
1924-1973, of Samuel Melancthon Derrick (1896-1969) manifest the
ways in which this Chapin native distinguished himself during a
long and productive career at the University of South Carolina,
starting out as an associate professor of rural social economics
in 1923 and by 1960 retiring as head of the School of Business
Administration, which he had served as dean since 1946.
A large segment of the collection is devoted to correspondence
and reports which show Derrick's leadership role in University
matters during several of the administrations under which he
served, beginning with that of Davison M. Douglas in the late
1920s but centering chiefly upon his work on Donald Russell's
Special Reorganization Committee in 1952. One file, 1957,
documents the establishment of the Davison McDowell Douglas
Memorial through the University South Caroliniana Society.

The other most sizable unit in the collection is made up of
typescripts of Derrick's various articles and essays, and of his
occasional speeches and addresses. The former include "Dr. John
de la Howe Industrial School" (1924), "Rice in Colonial South
Carolina" (1928), "The Influence of Occupation Upon the
Personality of the Farmer" (1928), "Sales Taxes for State
Purposes" (1932), "The Dutch Fork" (1935), and "The Future of
Capitalism in American Economic Life" (undated). These titles
are among those in his speech files: "Education and Present
Economic Conditions" (1933), "Social Sciences in Schools" (1936),
"Unemployment Compensation" (1941), "Charleston in Wartime"
(1943), "Outlook for Business" (1945), "Problems of State
Government" (1946), "The Shifting Scene in South Carolina
Agriculture" (1947), "Economic Factors Affecting the Financing of
Education in South Carolina" (1955), and "Jacob Nunez Cardozo"
(1956). There are also memorial resolutions on George McCutchen
(1876-1951), Josiah Morse (1879-1946), and Robert Lee Meriwether
(1890-1958).

Five files relate to the writing and publication of Derrick's
Centennial History of South Carolina Railroad, issued by The
State Company in 1930. Letters and notes reveal the role in this
project of Professor Yates Snowden, who suggested that Derrick
undertake the work and then assisted him throughout its
production. Writing to "My dear Melancthon," 16 September 1930,
Snowden remarked upon the special significance of a letter he was
enclosing, a copy of one written from W.J. Magrath to his
brother, A.G. Magrath, at the time the latter was governor of
South Carolina (1864-1865)--"It is an amazing production,
especially the moderate view of what he calls Sherman's Raid; &
the belittling of Sherman's ravages; & his apparent hope for
eventual success!!!...the References to the S.C. RR, are so
interesting that I thought you might work them into the proofs of
our very fine war chapter!" "I am sending you this by Special
Delivery," he continues, "thinking that you may agree with me as
to its importance in your magnum opus."

A small unit of correspondence between Derrick and Marion A.
Wright (1894-1983) shows Wright's attempt to enlist Derrick as
director of a proposed human relations research project in
Beaufort County, for which grant funding was being sought under
the auspices of Penn Community Services. "Ever since this matter
was first broached," Wright wrote Derrick on 25 April 1961, "I
have had you in mind as being the logical director of the
project. All of your professional life prepares you to perform
this job better than anyone I know." He added, "I also feel
that, as imposing as your achievements have been, there would be
nothing in your past to match in significance the work which we
have suggested you undertake."

In his reply of 15 May 1961 declining to entertain the offer and
stating that he did not feel that he "should assume new and
difficult responsibilities at this time in life," he reflected
upon his career and indicated the new direction of the School of
Business Administration--"[A]s Professor of Economics I feel that
in the next few years I can be of greater service here. We have
underway a new program to offer the Doctorate in Economics--a
program I have been interested in for some years. I am conceited
enough to think that I can be of considerable help with this new
program."

In his next letter, 29 May 1961, Wright then asked Derrick to
serve the project in an advisory capacity. By way of persuasion,
Wright argued that both Josiah Morse and Patterson Wardlaw long
identified the University with liberal causes. "I may do the
University an injustice," he added, "but I have not been aware in
recent years of any present such identification. It should be so
identified." He concluded--"Your membership on the advisory
committee will be a token of the University's concern, not with
desegregation, but with the development and exploitation of facts
which reveal the extent to which discrimination exists in South
Carolina and its cost to all the people."

On 5 June 1961 Derrick accepted Wright's invitation to serve as
an adviser of the research project.
Along with this correspondence is a copy of a paper entitled
"Human Relations Programming in South Carolina: A report of three
consultations on human relations concerns in South Carolina held
at the Penn Community Center, May - August, 1960."